�Islington’s transport chief says the much-loathed Archway gyratory may be removed within two years.
Cllr Paul Convery, executive member for planning, regeneration and transport, made the prediction as �1.1million of funding was announced to get Archway ready for the move.
The cash, a slice of �3million from Transport for London (TfL) for improvements and road safety and efficiency in Islington, will be used to smarten up Archway Close and Flowers Mews – cut off from the rest of the town centre by the busy road.
The work, much of which is already underway, includes uncovering original Victorian cobblestones and planting trees in preparation for reconnecting the mews to the rest of Archway.
Cllr Convery said: “I expect the gyratory to be removed in a couple of years. We are doing this work to prepare.
“Maybe I am being optimistic with that time frame but there is real momentum behind the move to get rid of it. It’s a TfL road, and we think they should pay for it.”
The rest of the cash, expected to be nodded through at tonight’s full council meeting, will go to improving what Cllr Convery refers to as the “Caledonian Road and Hornsey Road corridors”.
In Caledonian Road, �1million will be spent to get rid of the one-way stretch from Wharfdale Road, which Cllr Convery called a “boy racers’ paradise”.
The final �1million will go on widening pavements and improving parking to bring shoppers to Hornsey Road.
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